Chinese medical journal
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Lung transplantation (LT) has been demonstrated as the only effective therapy for patients with end-stage lung diseases. Increasing listed lung transplant candidates and expanding volumes of lung transplant centers across China require well-organized programs and registry data collection based on the large population. This study aimed to summarize and analyze the data of LT development in China. ⋯ Facing more end-stage of lung diseases and comorbidities, this study analyzed the outcomes and survival of LT recipients in China. Further prospectively stratified analyses with longer follow-up will be needed.
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Chinese medical journal · Dec 2019
ReviewCardiac complications in systemic sclerosis: early diagnosis and treatment.
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a remarkably systemic heterogeneous connective tissue disease with many organs involved. The heart is one of the major organs involved, carrying the threat of sudden cardiac death, especially in diffuse cutaneous SSc. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, types, new diagnostic approaches, and imaging and novel therapies of primary cardiac complications while underlining the effects of recently developed non-contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in early diagnosis. ⋯ Cardiac complications play an essential role in SSc and carry the threat of sudden cardiac death. More basic and clinical studies are warranted to develop better management of cardiac involvement in patients with SSc.
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Chinese medical journal · Dec 2019
ReviewDrug-induced anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.
In recent years, an increasing number of drugs have been proved to be associated with the induction of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). This article reviews the latest research progress on drug-induced AAV. ⋯ Patients with drug-induced AAV usually have a good prognosis if they stop using the offending drug immediately. Recent advances in research on AAV are expected to help us better understand the pathogenesis of drug-induced AAV.
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Chinese medical journal · Dec 2019
ReviewInvolvement of hydrogen sulfide in the progression of renal fibrosis.
Renal fibrosis is the most common manifestation of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Noting that existing treatments of renal fibrosis only slow disease progression but do not cure it, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapies. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a newly discovered endogenous small gas signaling molecule exerting a wide range of biologic actions in our body. This review illustrates recent experimental findings on the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of H2S against renal fibrosis and highlights its potential in future clinical application. ⋯ We postulate that H2S may delay the occurrence and progress of renal fibrosis, thus protecting renal function. Further experiments are required to explore the precise role of H2S in renal fibrosis and its application in clinical treatment.
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Chinese medical journal · Dec 2019
Metataxonomics of Internal Transcribed Spacer amplicons in cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosing and genotyping of cryptococcal meningitis.
Cryptococcal meningitis is a severe infectious disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. Rapidity and accuracy of diagnosis contribute to better prognosis, but readily available tools, such as microscopy, culture, and antigens do not perform well all the time. Our study attempted to diagnose and genotype cryptococcus in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with cryptococcal meningitis using the approach of metataxonomics of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) amplicons. ⋯ The metataxonomics of ITS amplicons facilitates the diagnosis and genotype of cryptococcus in CSF samples, which may provide a better diagnostic approach of cryptococcal infection.